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Worcester County House of Correction receives funding for new opioid use program

The Worcester County House of Correction is one of five in the state that will receive $100,000 to provide a wide range of pre- and post-release treatment and recovery services for incarcerated individuals with an opioid use disorder who are within two months of release.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the Medication Assisted Treatment Re-Entry Initiative for Houses of Correction (MATRI-HOC) program on Monday.

MATRI-HOC program services will be available to inmates at the participating Houses of Correction who have a diagnosed opioid use disorder, and who are due to be released within 60 days. Each individual will receive a clinical assessment and will be assigned a case manager to develop a treatment/recovery plan, including Medication Assisted Treatment when appropriate. Case management, treatment and recovery support services will be available to each participant for up to a year following their release.

Worcester business earns national recognition

Greenwood Industries, a Worcester-based nationally acclaimed architectural metal and commercial roofing contractor, is ranked 12th in the nation by Roofing Contractor magazine’s list of the top 100 roofers in the country.

The magazine used annual sales revenue and other business statistics in 2016 to create the list.

Greenwood was one of only two roofing contractors in New England to make the list.

Futterman joins Ball Consulting Group

Ball Consulting Group, a full-service strategic communications firm, has announced the appointment of Noah Futterman, an experienced former state government communications director, as an account executive.

Noah Futterman

Futterman has held various communications and project management positions in the public sector. He served as communications director for the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He also was a member of the staff of state Rep. Harold P. Naughton, D-Clinton, acting as a liaison and primary point of contact for constituents, community organizations, interest groups, and state and federal agencies.

“Noah adds tremendous energy and experience to our team. He is joining our firm at an important time as we continue to build our roster of clients and deliver high-quality, strategic communications advice,” said David A. Ball, founder and president of Ball Consulting Group.

Futterman, a Worcester native and resident of Boston, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Union College, where he also minored in Russian.

Spectrum hires new business development VP

Spectrum Health Systems has hired David Nefussy as the new vice president of business development.

Reporting to Chief Operating Officer Sherry Ellis, Nefussy is responsible for leading Spectrum’s business development efforts, including the cultivation of referral relationships and negotiating agreements with managed care organizations, third-party payors and private insurance companies. He will also work closely with Spectrum’s admissions department to facilitate timely admissions for individuals in need of services.

“David has established an excellent reputation in the field having worked in managed behavioral health care for more than 25 years,” Ellis said. “In addition to being very knowledgeable about addiction treatment and mental health services, he is highly regarded for his customer orientation and strong relationship-building. We are very fortunate to have him join our team and help grow Spectrum’s continuum of services.”

WCTI adds two to board

The Worcester CleanTech Incubator announced the addition of Hilary Flynn and Michael Cooper to its board of directors. Flynn and Cooper are with National Grid, one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world.

Flynn will aid in creating avenues through which entrepreneurs within WCTI can communicate fresh and inventive ideas. Cooper’s role will allow for more entrepreneurial investment opportunities in the energy industry. Flynn and Cooper are part of National Grid Ventures, a new organization outside of the regulated core business focused on cleantech.

“The addition of Hilary and Michael to our board underscores WCTI’s and National Grid’s commitment to entrepreneurs based in the Worcester community who desire a cleaner energy future,” WCTI Executive Director Joe Bush said. “National Grid already supports WCTI financially and hosts an engineer at the facility once a week to offer mentoring and engineering advice.”

WCAC hires two for Job & Education Center

Cox will assist clients with job searching, building resumes, mock interviews and other wraparound supports to help them achieve their goals. She holds a certificate in drug and alcohol counseling and has one year left in her pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Psychology from Becker College. She most recently worked as a case manager at Friendly House.

Kwesi Foster

Foster will focus on business engagement in order to bolster employment and internship opportunities for local youth. He holds a degree in business management with a focus on finance and marketing from Springfield College. He most recently worked as an operations, communication and administrative specialist for the Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board.

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